By Steve Holt, Sports Writer
ACU will go spike-to-spike with some of the nation’s best Division I cross country teams Saturday at the 67th annual Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla. The Wildcat men have quite a tradition to keep at the meet after finishing first in 2000 and second last season.
“I think a top-five finish would be great,” said head coach Jon Murray, who will run only six men instead of seven because the injured Jean-Marie Ndukimana will sit out.
Universities present will include 2002 champion Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and TCU, among others.
Leading the charge for ACU will be junior Bernard Manirakiza, who won ACU’s first meet of the season, the ACU Classic, on Sept. 12. Murray said a top-five individual finish for the Burundian is very possible. After that, Murray said he’d like to see four Wildcat runners in the top-20 finishers of the race.
“We’ll be real strong through four,” Murray said. “The gap will be a little bit greater.”
The University of Arkansas, led by super senior Daniel Lincoln, won last year’s men’s race. Lincoln has graduated, leaving Arkansas a little more vulnerable than it was last season. The finish likely will be closer between the top three or four teams than in past seasons.
The women’s team, led by freshman standout Yuliya Stashkiv, is coming off a strong fifth-place finish at last weekend’s Texas A&M Invitational, but it will see increased Division I competition Saturday. Stashkiv placed third Saturday in College Station with a six-kilometer time of 21:48. Murray said he’d like to see three Wildcat runners finish in the race’s top-20, but after four runners, the times have been dropping off significantly.
“We’re just a little tired,” Murray said of the women’s team.
The Wildcat men did not compete last weekend, and will have had 10 days of training for Saturday’s race. Murray said the time “off” has been beneficial.
“We had some great work sessions. We’re continuing to get better,” Murray said. “It’s just about staying in shape-I think they’re alright in that respect.”
The start time for Saturday’s races has yet to be announced. The race will take place on the Oklahoma State Cross Country Course.
